Private legal practitioner Martin Luther Kpebu has asserted that the disclosure of national security information by former Director-General of the National Signals Bureau (NSB), Kwabena Adu-Boahene, is not entirely prudent.
He says such information, when disclosed, will not help Adu-Boahene’s case regarding the charges leveled against him in court.
According to the lawyer, the former spy boss is merely attempting to gain national stature since his revelations will not only implicate those he names but also damage his own reputation.
Despite admitting that disclosing some specifics on portions of the amount he has been accused of embezzling may help the nation to some extent, the renowned lawyer believes it does more harm to his own reputation.
Mr. Kpebu was speaking in a telephone interview on the BigIssue on TV3’s NewDay Wednesday, May 14, 2025, when he explained how the development could indirectly soil the former security chief’s reputation.
“It doesn’t help his case that much directly. But indirectly, what it does is that, he wants to become a national hero because, now by his revelations showing that this is how state funds were used, if the man who was involved in how state funds was misused, comes out to reveal that to the public, you know he is not only dragging people he mentioned down but he is dragging himself down,” he stated.
His comments follow a caution by Adu-Boahene’s lawyer, Samuel Atta Akyea, that his client may be compelled to disclose certain classified national security information in his attempt to defend himself. Atta Akyea cautioned that care must be taken in handling the matter to prevent that from happening.
Addressing the media after proceedings in court on Tuesday, May 13, 2025, the former Minister of Works and Housing under the erstwhile Akufo-Addo administration indicated that his client was not afraid to defend himself when he cautioned against disclosing certain information that might affect national security.
According to him, although Adu-Boahene swore an oath of secrecy when he assumed office, the nature and tangent of the matter in question may force him to come out with information that are highly classified.
“The way national security matters are being raised, he should come to terms with it. That is what he was trying to do. He was not saying that he is afraid to defend himself by saying that they are pushing him into areas of national security, and when push comes to shove, he has to defend himself.
“Later, someone will ask why a national intelligence officer is trying to bring national security matters into the public domain when he has sworn an oath,” he said.
Adu-Boahene has meanwhile revealed that portions of the money were given to then-opposition political parties to coordinate their results in the December 2024 elections and also given to a special aide of a presidential aspirant.
In the meantime, Adu-Boahene is still in the custody of the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) despite the court’s seven-working-day remand order having elapsed. His lawyer, Mr. Atta Akyea, had informed the court that his client had been rearrested on a separate matter after the original remand period ended.
The former Director-General of the National Signals Bureau is facing charges including stealing, money laundering, and causing financial loss to the state.
He is said to have transferred monies meant to procure security apparatus for the state to his private account. He was originally remanded on Friday, May 2, 2025, over allegations of witness tampering.
PLAYBACK: The KeyPoints discusses Mahama’s social contract, Code of Conduct, Adu-Boahene
